About Me

When?
Started: 1993
Who?
Started with staff and friends from U H S, Chester.
Organiser: Martyn Harris
We walk every Thursday and Saturdays, New Years day and May Day.
How many walk? Walks take place as long as there are at least 2 wanting to walk on that day.
More walk on a Thursday than on a Saturday.
Most ever: 29. Numbers walking: 2-12, and usually about 8 mid-week and 3-4 on Saturday.
Where do we walk?
Saturday:
Anywhere in North and Mid-Wales, Peak District, Shropshire and the Long Mynd and as far North as the Trough of Bowland.
Thursday: Anywhere within about 40 miles of Chester.
Type of walk: Distance: 6 – 14 miles. Climb: up to 4000’ (but usually very much less!).
Those involved in 2017:-
Martyn Harris, Fran Murphy, Sue and Michel Pelissier, Annie Hammond, Sue and Dave Pearson, Mike Dodd, David and Anne Savage, Celia de Mengle, Wendy and Ian Peers, Roger and Margaret Smith, Tim and Carol Dwyer, Paul Collinson, Phil Marsland, Sylvia and Dave Jenkins, Sheila McNee, Ed Meads, Elaine and John Greenhalgh.

Walk stats: Distance: 11 miles. Climb: 100'. (I'm sure it must have been more than metre!).

Time: Just over 5 hours 18 minutes (the time between the first and last photos).

Group: Phil, Tim and Annie.

The weather forecast was for rain later in the day, alas it came sooner than expected and by lunch time the spots were beginning to fall, and as the photos show they turned into a little more than spots by the time we got back to Knutsford.

11 miles after a wrong turn and a detour around a jungle. Started at about 64 metres and climbed at the highest to just over 65 metres. Annie, Tim and Phil walked for 5 1/2 hours including a lunch break. It was a walk in two parts- a very pleasant morning walk of 3 hours in shirts followed by a very very wet afternoon walk. You can see the difference in the before and after photographs. The start from the middle of Knutsford was very different from our usual starts in the countryside. We encountered some birds, especially of the large wooden variety, and some very interesting scarecrows and a bear! Some of the houses we saw were interesting but we decided that they would take too much looking after.

The usual standard of report will be resuming shortly when Martyn is once again walking.

Sunday, 23 June 2013

Harris Hikers goes Harrisless.I had the operation on my left hand at the Countess on Wednesday 19th June. I anticipate that I will be unable to walk for at least 2 weeks and maybe up to 6 weeks.My recovery schedule starts with a visit to the hand physiotherapist on the 27th June and then have the sutures removed on the 1st July, followed a visit to Prof. Harrison's clinic on the 2th July. I will probably think about walking again after that.I hope that Thursday's walks will continue in my absence. I will be able to co-ordinate the walk and provide route descriptions, providing someone is able to call round and collect them.As so few walk on Saturday it looks as though Saturday's walks will cease for the time being, and will resume as soon my hand has recovered enough for me to cope with putting a rucksack on.Saturday 1st June 2013. Postponed

Deganwy Castle, Conwy and Morfa Conwy.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb: 800'.
Start: Conwy Morfa Car park. Grid ref: SH762787. To get to the car park, leave the A55 at Junction 7, follow signs for the Marina and then Aberconwy Park. (PC also there).
Leave Chester at 08-30 a.m.
This walk combines one walk from Dave Berry's book "Walks on the North Wales Coast and two walks from his book "Best Coastal walks in North Wales". The Deganwy walk we have done several times before, but never at this time of the year, so hopefully it won't be so muddy underfoot as our usual Winter excursion! The other walks explore the coastal area North of Bodlondeb Wood and are both two new walks on the list. It may also give us the opprtunity to explore the Conwy town walls.

Thursday 6th June 2013.

A Three Churches Walk - Llandyrnog, Llangwyfan and Llangynhafal.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb:1200'.
Start: Roadside parking in Nant Glyd, Llandyrnog. Grid ref: SJ 109651. To get to Nant Glyd, at the cross-roads in the centre of Llandyrnog, go down the road towards Llangynhafal (Gladstone Terrace) and Nant Glyd is the first road on the right. Park next to the football field.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This walk uses two walks from Dave Berry's book "walks in the Vale of Clwyd." One walk is described as a delightful walk exploring the attractive countryside between the River Clwyd and the lower slopes of the Clwydian Hills. The other walk meanders through delightful countryside and skirts the edge of th Clwydian Hills.

Saturday 8nd June 2013.

Around Holy Island.

Distance:12-13 miles. Climb:1326'.
Start: Roadside parking opposite PC by the Old Harbour in Holyhead. Just before the turning to South Stack. SH245831.
Leave Chester 8-30 a.m.
This is another walk that has become an annual favourite. Much of the walk is along the Coastal path, but we will probably make a detour to visit the summit of Holyhead Mountain. A good chance of seeing Choughs, Guillimots, Razorbills and even Puffins. Bring binoculars if you can.

Thursday 13th June 2013.

Eglwyseg Escarpment and Trevor Rocks.

Distance:9-10 miles. Climb:1400'.
Start: Off road parking on the Panorama road just East of the monument. Grid ref: SJ247426.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This must be one of the best walks in the Llangollen area, especially on a sunny day. a walk that makes you feel like you're on top of the world with superb views in all directions, including the Dee Valley, Dinas Bran, the Llantysilio Mountains and the Berwyns.

Saturday 15th June 2013.

Rowen, Llanbedre-y-cennin and Caerhun.

Distance: 10-11 miles. Climb:1500'.
Start: roadside parking opposite the post office in Rowen. Grid ref: SH761719.
Leave Chester 08-00 a.m.
This walk combines one walk from Carl Rogers's book "Walkng in the Conwy valley with one walk from Dave Berry's book " Walks Around Betws-y-coed and the Conwy Valley". One walk is described as a walk exploring the attractive undulating countryside between two attractive villages with a possible extension to the top of Moel y Gaer. The other walk is described as an easy walk, visiting a Medieval church and a the site of a Roman fort. Both Llanbedr-y-cennin and Caerhun are known locations for Hawfinch. Will we be lucky this time! Bring binoculars, just in case.
Last time we attempted this walk, two of us chickened out of the Caerhun part as the weather wa so bad, hopefully the weather this time will be a little better than on that January day!

Thursday 20th June 2013.

Around Minera Mountain.

Distance: 9-11 miles. Climb: 1000'.
Start: Mineral Lead Mine Centre Car park. grid ref: SJ276509.
Leave Chester at 09-00 a.m.
This wlk is taken from Dave Berry's book "Walks Around Ruabon and Hope Mountain". The walk is described as being quite demanding, especially on the open access moorland. A walk for experienced walkers only - do we count? Can be boggy underfoot! In May 2013, Minera suffered from suffered from a landslide of mud that cut off part of the Mineral Mountain road, hopefully by the time that we do this walk there won't be any problem.

Saturday 22nd June 2013. - Postponed.

Higher Poynton to Furness Vale By way of Lyme Park and the Dipping Stone.

Distance: 12 miles. Climb: 1800'.
Start: Nelson Pit Car park, Higher Poynton. Grid ref: SJ945832.
Leave Chester 08-00 a.m.
This walk is taken from Graham Beech's book " East Cheshire Walks". It is described as a moderate/strenuous walk. I think this reflects the section of the walk that climbs from the Macclesfield canal up to the Bow Stones. The moorland section can be quite boggy underfoot, but at this time of the year there should be no problems! good views of Kinder, Bleaklow and Shutlingsloe from the highest point near the Bow Stones.
Getting to the start will allow us to experience the new road junction in the centre of Poynton, a cross roads that even with traffic lights was always a place where you knew you would be delayed. Is the new system any better!

Thursday 27th June 2013. This walk is still going ahead. Phil has the route descriptions.

Knutsford and Several Peovers.

Distance: 11-12 miles; Climb: 200'.
Start: Long stay car park on Tatton Street, Knutsford. This is a pay and display car park, £3-50 for over 6 hours according to the Knutsford web site. Grid ref: SJ750789.
Leave Chester at 8-45 a.m.
This walk is a little further away than usual, so to ensure that we are walking by 10-00 a.m., I thought it would be better to leave a little earlier than usual.
Annie of course will be able to have a longer than usual lay in this morning!
This walk is taken from Jack Baker and Jack Hanmer's book "Walking in Cheshire". This book was published in 1974 and updated in 1978, so following the directions may prove challenging. They describe the walk as a walk over fairly level, but pleasantly wooded country, although places can be muddy in Winter. This will give Annie another chance to leave home a little later than usual to meet us for a Thursday walk!
The last time that we did this walk in December 2010, everyone said that it was well worth repeating, so it's on the list again.

Saturday 29th June 2013.- Postponed.

The Stipperstone Ridge and Green Hill.

Distance: 9-10 miles. Climb: 1500'.

Start: Stipperstones Car park, East of The Bog, East of the A488, South of Gavels. Grid ref: SO369977.
Leave Chester at 08-00 a.m.
This is another of the walks taken from Steve Goodier's book "Walks in the Shropshire Hills". I know the popularity of this little ridge means that walking here isn't everyone's cup of tea, but when viewed from the Long Mynd it always looks inviting. We haven't completed a walk on the Stipperstones for over 10 years, so I thought it was worth giving it an airing. The Stipperstones walk is only 6 miles, so we will extend the walk Eastward to include Green Hill. Oak Hill and Castle Ring Fort.

Another day when BBC weather and Metcheck’s forecast should have meant“DO NOT walk!”,had they been accurate.. As it turned out, we had very little rain for the first hour and a half and then it was time to put on over trousers.

The walk itself was not at all as Dave Berry had led us to believe “quite demanding for experienced walkers”, nor was it as boggy as we expected. No sign of a landslide either. In fact the only problem we encountered was after Ty Hir when we had to get a GPS location to confirm that we had not taken the path nearest to Llandegla Forest but the one just before that. A quick check with compasses and we were soon at the junction with the road to World’s End. Time for lunch in a sheltered spot.

The weather then picked up and the rain stopped, giving us good viewsacross the moor of Minera Mountain. As we approached the Old Kiln, a hooded Goth joined us briefly and then we stated dropping down to Fron Deg, New Brighton and back at Minera Lead Mines Centre.

As old habits die hard, we could not resist the attraction of the Pantyr Ochain where as always the beer and the welcome were excellent.

Birds as seen or heard by the amateur ornithologist: Cuckoo, European robin, Carrion crow, partridge, Skylark, Eurasian curlew, Sparrow hawk… and several little brown birds on the moor (pipits?)

Flowers: Orchid, Bluebell, Honesty, Welsh Poppy and a many more that,only Martyn, Dave or Richard could have identified. Sorry!

You won't believe it, but heis not in a world of his own, he's looking at a butterfly!

Conwy Mountain in the background and the last image, hopefully of bent fingers on the left hand!

Walk stats: 10.0 miles. Climb: 1485'.

Time: 6 hours 19 minutes. On the move walking average: 2.1 m.p.h. Overall walk average: 1.6 m.p.h. (Mainly my fault as I kept on stopping to take photographs of flowers or look at birds, and we did seem to find a few locals that that enhanced our walk by sharing their local knowledge.

Friday's forecast for this area not too good, but thankfully they got it wrong, we didn't get any rain and Mike's only regret was that he didn't put his shorts on and take his sun blocking cream!

This turned out to be a delightful walk in almost ideal conditions, both in terms of the weather and in the conditions underfoot, a marked contrast to the last time we did this walk, when the rain was so bad that half of the group abandoned it half way round!

We arrived back at the car, still in glorious sunshine and looking forward to a pint off Lees at the Britannia Inn at Halkyn. I did enjoy my Lees bitter, but Mike ended up driving and had enjoy his J2O!

This was the first time that I wore only one shirt for the whole walk, and didn't need to change it at lunch time! One might think that it must have been the perfect day for walking. However this wasn't quite true as by mid-day we were all wearing our waterproofs, and the last trek across the moors was against driving rain that at times felt more like hail, and no-one suggested "it's time for lunch".

At one point we thought our best option was to keep as high on the escarpment a possible and retrace our route from the Scots Pine tree on the top path. However the rain did stop, after over an hour and did stop for lunch, most of us thankful that we had a hot soup or a hot drink to warm us up.

After lunch the weather was much better, although at first the gusts of wind were still quite strong, but by the time we got back to the car, it was quite warm and the road seemed to be steaming"!

Flowers seen today were few but included: Gorse, Common dog violet, Trailing tormentil, a variety of very small Daisies, Dandelion, Buttercup, Speedwell and a few tiny white flowers.

This is always an excellent walk with superb views across the Dee Valley and beyond and today was no exception, even if we didn't see much of it for a couple of hours around mid-day.

After walk drinks were enjoyed at the Pant yr Ochain, where the welcoming roaring fire made you want to linger nearby as we waited for our drinks. Purple moose, Snowdonia Ale went down well, as did the coffee, and other unmentionable drinks too!

Home early, boots washed, waterproofs and rucksack were soon outside drying in the warm sunshine. All completely dry by the time I had finished my dinner and settled down to watch the cricket!

The forecast was for this to be the last really good day of the week, so I thought it would be a good day to visit the Little Tern colony at Gronant. In fact it was a little overcast and cooler than expected as I set off through the Nature Reserve, but it wasn't long before the Sun was out and blue skies appeared. The tide was well out as I approached Gronant, so it was difficult to see any of the birds on the water's edge, but there was the delightful sound of Skylarks and the entertaining parachuting of Meadow pipits around the dunes.

Today was a really glorious day for walking, blue skies and sunshine all day and the occasional light breeze.

In the past we have always completed this walk in an anticlockwise direction, but this time we decide to do it in the opposite direction and get the delights of Holyhead town centre over with at the start. This proved a good choice, and we saw views that appeared to be new to us as we approached from a new direction. I think we will have to do a few more walks in the opposite directions as to our normal routes.

The sea looked superb and I suppose the only down side to the day was that we didn't finish the walk at a beach that would allow us to cool off in swim in the sea.

Instead of parking in Nant Glyd, we parked just around the corner on the Llangynhafal road, which we thought was much better, as the road was much wider and not near any bends!

What a glorious day for walking this turned out to be. As forecasted it was sunny all day and temperatures must have reached into the twenties. the route had sections of shaded bridleways and minor roads, as well occasionally we were exposed to a very pleasantly cooling breeze.